Where to Start With Superman Comics

Superman, you know? The most iconic superhero of all time, and somehow one of the more difficult DC heroes to follow. Superman’s history dates way back to his Action Comics #1 debut in 1938, so if you want to read his history, you have over 75 years of comics to choose from!

I’ve compiled a full Superman reading order, that will also be navigable for new readers. Note in the index below, that you could start from the Action Comics #1 beginnings, or more jump right to Superman’s more modern stories in DC Comics New 52.

If you want the fast-track approach to Golden Age Superman, the above “best of” will get you a wide variety of great Superman stories from 1938 to 2012. There are about six stories that quite distinctly occur after Crisis on Infinite Earths (the next section in this guide), but for the most part the focus is appropriate to Golden Age Superman. A good starting point if you’re new to Superman comics.

If you’re committed to tackling Superman from his very first appearance in Action Comics #1 (1938), the Superman Chronicles are excellent collected trades.

The first volume collects Action Comics #1-13, New York World’s Fair Comics #1 and Superman #1. There are ten volumes in the series, and they will take you up through Action Comics #56 which was published in 1943.

An alternative approach to Golden Age Superman beginnings is the “by decade” collection, which functions similarly to the “A Celebration of 75 Years” best-of above. Again, this is a reasonable, affordable fast track to give you a feel for Superman’s development throughout the decade.

Massive and reasonably priced compilation featuring Supergirl! These issues run from around 1958 to the end of 1961, otherwise known as the time Marvel Comics was debuting Fantastic Four. Note a small amount of overlap with the Superman in the Fifties collection.

Post Crisis on Infinite Earths Superman (1986 to 2011)

Following the restructuring of the DC Multiverse during Crisis on Infinite Earths, Superman was reimagined and redefined for the next generation of DC Comics fans. That all begins in John Byrne’s Man of Steel #1 to #6.

New Millennium, Pre New 52 Superman (2000 to 2011)

Birthright (by Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu) replaced/supplemented Superman’s origins as told in the 1986 Man of Steel. At least for a time…

Personally, I prefer to just enjoy the look back at Superman’s early days as just another story, and a well told one at that. Waid and Yu get to the heart of Clark Kent the journalist in surprising ways that affect his role as our Earth’s Superman.

Emperor Joker is one of the absolute weirder DC books in the 2000’s, and as such is almost required reading. There are plenty of flaws, but if nothing else, you’re not going to see many Superman stories like this one.

This collection brings together Geoff John’s most popular runs during his time on Action Comics. The first, “Last Son of Krypton,” embraces the General Zod Kryptonian menace first established way back in Superman 2 (and then again in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel). The second story is Superman: Braniac, which was my introduction to the ultra-intelligence, and I found it highly enjoyable!

Alan Moore (Watchmen, Saga of the Swamp Thing) and perennial Superman artist Curt Swan created the “last” Superman story, featuring the Man of Steel against Lex Luthor and Braniac in a final struggle.

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Pre-Rebirth, this needs to include Superman Volume 2: Return to Glory (end of Yang’s run before he moves onto New Super-Man) which also sloppily intersects with the Superman: Savage Dawn and (of course) Superman: The Final Days of Superman crossover trades.

Hi! I have a question, why “superman road to rebirth” isn´t between Superman American Alien and Superman Vol1 from Rebirth. I think that these histories are very important to understand the reason of 2 supermans and the death of one of them. Thanks for the excellent work guys!